Display device



Nav. 1952 LANG 2,517,550

Filed Dec.` 31. 1949 INvENToR, W/LL /AM A. L ANG 'Become' damaged orJ iiiredi duriii Patentecl Nov. 11, 1952 gto; Monsanto AChemicaL Company, Sti

:this ir'iveft'ioi1 r'eltes to? o; v"oispialyl device. More' sp'ecficany- ,v f inventioni reiatef a combined display' device Vand shipping i container, wherein merchandise ltof'be'i' oispayu may be permanently 'or semi-pei'ninentlyiaiiiiredifor dis; play purposes, and wherein*tliefientiruitii so constructed asto serve" as i it'si'o'wnsliipping container, eliminating* on' sl'ipiiiet`- tlie*ne`e"d-`` for separate cratingfacilities.

In lthe merchandising ofvrioiisjdomiriolities,

iris quite a commofijpractieetoipi'pare-*display i i causes considerableitroublefand*expense;V Itf-'also has been frequently' iondithatftlfaiiea wherein the display device ui'r'at'e is assembled iin? its' disiia'yposition-:-

play: and" shippingdevice; isv proyided in which when=assembledfas-a display device, substantially all exposed surfaceswhich have become marred or, :couldv becomeimarred during shipment, are hiddeniromnormal= view. Furthermore, merchandise may' be-permanentlyaiiixed in thef d evice o-`the;inv ention.V The device with its display merchandise may Vbe compactly assembled 'to'forma liox-lilse package for shipping purposes. The' device -'in its` shipping position-doesn not requ-ireenclosure ina vshipping cratevto-u afford adequate protection. On reaching its destination; the display device may be reassembled^for display. In view of *the a-bseneeof; of separate shipping7 crate or container;V thedebris; which usually accompanies the unpackaeing-=` ofc such a device'is' eliminated.

\Fig. 11- is-,a-iI perspective fviewof thedisplay- Iand shipping deviceassembled'- into its-` display position.

Fig; 2 is a-perspective viewofj-the-displayiand Vshipping 1 devicev partiallyassembledinto itsdis'- payposition. v i v Fig; 3- is a7 sideelevation -of- 'the two box-like elements of the device-*gin positionlfor assembly intotheir shippingv position; I p

Fig; 4". is^-a fragmentarytransversej section of thedisp'lay device-taken on line 4--4f of-Fig. ;1.

lFieuflisJ-a iragmentar'y transverse sectionof thefdisplay device-:taken on linef-; of Fig2;

"'Bef'oreexplaining -in detailtheV apparatus of the present invention; it'fis'to bewunderstoodthat the invention' isd not-limited Vin--its application-ito the"V details ofI ieonstructiom andarrangement I of parts" illustrated--inf the* accompanying; drawings; since" theinvention isfcapable" ofother embodiments and ofI being; practiced for `carried-out infivarious ways. Also; itu isito be'understood that'ithe' phraseology or. terminology-'employed herein' is for the purpose of (description landnot of limitation;V

` Referring in-'detail'to'thef'drawings,the-device plate 12 of box 2 are of-` suchedinensione as' to aevgsso d, and 6. Preferably, however, in such an embodiment plate l2 does not extend so far as to cover edge Id of plate 4 but only extends to the inner surface of plate 4. This provides a flat surface for resting the display box on the shipping box.

Side plates It and I i of box 2 are recessed from the ends of base plate 9 to such an extent as to permit fiaps II and l8, having rims I9 and 29, to be mounted at the extremities of base plate 9 in such a manner as to hang down from base plate 9 parallel with side plates 5 and 6 of box I when the device is positioned for display purposes and to be raised to a position parallel with side plates Ill and II when box 2 is prepared for insertion in box I. Conveniently, flaps l'I and IB may be attached by hinges 2Ito base plate 9.

Rims I9 and 23 on flaps I'I and I8 are sufficiently wide to overlap and conceal edges l5 and I6 when flaps l'I and I8 are in a lowered position. It is to be noted that side plates ID and ll are sufficiently recessed on base-plate 9 to permit flaps I'I and l9 to be mounted thereon in such a manner as to permit insertion of box 2 in box l When flaps ll and l8 with rims I9 and 29 are in a raised position.

If desired, top plate 8 of display box 2 may be located somewhat below and parallel with the top edge of back plate I2 thereof. Such an arrangement provides an air space between plate 8 and plate 3 during shipment.

Flap 22 is attached to base plate 9 of box 2, for example by hinges 23 in such a manner'that when the device is assembled for display purposes fiap 22 hangs down either in a vertical position or at an angle thereby concealing most of edge I3 not concealed by rims IS and 29. For shipping purposes fiap 22 is rotated about hinge 23 to a verticalposition. According to the embodiment in the drawing, side plates IO and II are recessed sufficiently on base plate'9 to permit the hinged edge of flap 22 to rest on plate 9 when flap 22 is in a vertical position.

Top plate 8 of box 2 may have a different width, preferably smaller, as shown in the drawing, than base plate 9. The leading edges of side plates lil and I I of box 2 joining top plate 8 and base plate 9 may, as shown in the drawing, be irregular in configuration if desired.

In order to provide additional display space, box-like member 24 having a back plate 25, a base plate 23 and side plates 2'I and 28 and attached, e. g. by hinges to top plate 8, may be provided. Side plates 21 and 28 may have such a configuration that leading edges 29V and 39 thereof form an extension of leading edges 3I and 32 of side plates Ill and H. In the device shown in the drawing, edges 29 and 30 form a angle to base plate 26 while the upper portion of edges 3! and 32 form a 45 angle with top plate 8. consequently, when the device is in display position, edges 29 and 3! form a straight line as do edges 39 and 32 and when in shipping position, base plate 26 forms anextension of abbreviated top plate 8.

As a partial front plate for display box 2 and for decorative effect, member 33 may be attached to side plates Ill and II 'and top plate 8. Lights for illuminating the display may be mounted behind member 2.3 in a suitable manner.

Fig. Ll is a fragmentary transverse section in detail of the display device taken on line 4-6 of Fig. 1, showing one of two blocks 34 which arev attached to display box 2 and positioned be- Vtween display box 2 and shipping box l at each -end thereof to raise the display box slightly and permit a block 35 to be partially inserted between box I and box 2 midway'between the ends thereof, thereby governing the angle at which flap 22 is held, e. g. a 45 angle. Raising of box 2 by blocks 34 also facilitates the rotation of flaps ll and IS. Shown in dotted lines in section in Fig. 4 is the position of fiap I-'I in its raised position. By pivotally'mounting block 35 on plate 9 on pivot 36, it may be rotated entirely beneath box 2 for shipping purposes.

In Fig. 5 is shown a fragmentary transverse section in detail of the display device taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2. Shown in dotted lines is flap 22 in section held at an angle as in Fig. 1 by a block 35 shown in section in dotted lines, partially inserted between box l and box 2.

VThe entire structure may be constructed of wood, and the like, and be conveniently assembled by the use of wood screws as shown in Figures fi and, 5. Piano type hinges 2I and 23 have been foundparticularly suitable for facilitating the rotating of all movable members. If desired, corners of the shipping box may be covered and protected by sheet metal.

considering the functions performed by the various members of the display device of this invention when assembled in a display position, the outstanding utility of this novel display deviceuis clearly evident. In assembling this de- -vice the following procedure is followed:

Display box hl-is removed from shipping box 2 and placed on top of shipping box 2 with the open end of box I directly above the open end of box l. lFlaps l'l and [8 of the upper portion of the display device are then lowered along the sides 5 and 6 and edges I5 and 16 respectively of box 2, and flap 22 is lowered over edge I3 thereby covering exposed areas of box 2 which could normally be viewable from the'front and which may have become marred or damaged through shipment of the display device. Box 2d is then rotated in Van upwardly direction so as to rest on the top of box ,2, thereby providing for a display shelf at the very top of the unit. It isV evident that'substantially all surfaces of the display device in` itsv assembled condition exposed during shipment and which would have been marred or damaged through shipment are either covered by movable members of the display device or face the back and are hidden from view, so that substantially all surfaces which are exposed to viewfrom'the usual front viewing position have never been exposed to the damaging treatmentthat VWould be-obtained on shipment. V

When shipping of the displaydevice of this invention is desired, flaps I'I and l3 are raised and closed in about'the upper portion 2 of the display `device. Flap 22 is also raised to its upper position. Box 24 is rotated into its lower position. Box 2of the display device is removed from its positionontop of the lower portion I of the display device, and insertedopen end first into box I of the display device. ,Byj means of suitably located screws, it is rigidly held in place. Thus, the two boxes may be held together by screws passing through plates 3, 4, 5 and 6 and into the corresponding edges of plate 12. When the alternative embodiment is used in Which plate l2 covers edges l3, Ill, and l or 13, 15 and IB, screws may be passed through plate l2 and into one or more of these edges. Shipping labels may then be attached or fastened to any of the thus exposed surfaces of the display device and the entire unit shipped Without further crating or packaging. On reaching its destination, the device may again be set up as previously described with all surfaces damaged or marred in shipment being substantially hidden from view in its assembled display position. A 'particular advantage of the device of the invention is its relatively low weight in relation to the size and conveniently viewable location of the display area which is provided.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination display and shipping device comprising an open-ended shipping box and an open-ended display box of such a size as to be insertable within the shipping box, open end first, and adapted to be mounted on said shipping box When the device is in display position, said display box having flaps mounted on each side thereof and upwardly rotatable to a position parallel with and adjacent to the sides of the display box for shipping purposes and downwardly rotatable to a position parallel with and adjacent to the sides of the shipping box when the display box is mounted on the shipping box for display purposes, said flaps each having a rim extending lengthwise thereof and so positioned as to conceal the exposed edges of the side plates of the shipping box when the flaps are lowered, and said display box having a flap extending along the exposed edge of the lower plate of the display box and rotatably mounted thereon so as to conceal the exposed edge of the upper plate of the shipping box when in its lowered position.

2. A combination display and shipping device comprising an open-ended shipping box and an open-ended display box of such a size as to be insertable within the shipping box, open end first, and adapted to be mounted on said shipping box when the device is in display position, said display'box having flaps mounted on each side thereof and upwardly rotatable to a position parallel with and adjacent to the sides of the display box for shipping purposes and downwardly rotatable to a position parallel with and adjacent to the sides of the shipping box when the display box is mounted on the shipping box for display purposes, a flap extending along the exposed edge of the lower plate of the display box and rotatably mounted thereon so as to conceal the exposed edge of the upper plate of the display box when in its lowered position, a rear plate of such a size as to correspond to the inside dimensions of the shipping box and a top plate narrower than the bottom plate thereof, said top plate having a second display box positioned thereon and rotatably attached to the leading edge of said top plate.

3. A combination display and shipping device comprising an open-ended shipping box and an open-ended display box of such a size as to be insertable within the shipping box, open end first, and adapted to be mounted on said shipping box when the device is in the display position, said display box having flaps mounted on each side thereof and upwardly ro-tatable to a position par-V allel with and adjacent to the sides of the display 'box for` shipping purposes and downwardly rotatable to a position parallel with and adjacent to the sides of the shipping box when the display box is mounted on the shipping box for display purposes, said flaps each having a rim extending lengthwise thereof and so positioned as to conceal the exposed edges of the side plates of the shipping box when the flaps are lowered.

4. A combination display and shipping device oomprising an open-ended shipping box and an open-ended display box of such a size as to be insertable within the shipping box, open end first, and adapted to be mounted on said shipping box when the device is in display position, said display box having a rear plate of such a size as to correspond to the inside dimensions of the shipping box, and said display box having flaps mounted on each side thereof and upwardly rotatable to a position parallel with and adjacent to the sides of the display box for shipping purposes and downwardly rotatable to a position parallel with and Yadjacent to the sides of the shipping box When the display box is mounted on the shipping box for display purposes, said flaps each having a rim extending lengthwise thereof and so positioned as to conceal the exposed edges of the side plates of the shipping box when the flaps are lowered,

5. A combination display and shipping device comprising an open-ended shipping box and an open-ended display box of such a size as to be insertable within the shipping box, open end first, and adapted to be mounted on said shipping box when the device is in display position, said display box having a rear plate of a size such as to correspond to the inside dimensions of the shipping box, and said display box having flaps mounted on each side thereof and upwardly rotatable to a position parallel with and adjacent to the sides of thefdisplay box for shipping purposes and downwardly rotatable to a position parallel with and adjacent to the sides of the shipping box when the display box is mounted on the shipping box for display purposes, said flaps each having a rim extending lengthwise thereof and so positioned Vas to conceal the exposed edges of the side plates of the shipping box when the flaps are lowered, and said display box having a ilap extending along the exposed edge of the lower plate of the display box and rotatably mounted thereon so as to conceal the exposed edge of the upper plate of the shipping box when in its lowered position.

WILLIAM A. LANG.

REFEREN CES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,038,974 Schulz Sept. 17, 1912 1,041,497 Lines Oct. 15, 1912 1,348,262 Brockway Aug. 3, 1920 1,382,393 Smith June 21, 1921 2,302,243 Mitzel Nov, 17, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 446,782 Great Britain May 6, 1936 

